Application of the California mastitis test in intramammary Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus infections of camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Kenya

A study was conducted on 207 lactating camels in six herds in Kenya to evaluate the California mastitis test (CMT) for the detection of intramammary infections (IMIs) caused by Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus and to investigate the prevalence of both the pathogens in the camel udder. IMI with S. agalactiae was found in 12% of all camels sampled. IMI with S. aureus was present in 11% of all camels sampled. The herd-level prevalence of IMI varied between 0 and 50% for S. agalactiae and between 0 and 13% for S. aureus. Longitudinal observations over 10–12 months confirmed persistent infections for both pathogens. Observations in one herd suggested that camel pox was a contributing factor in spreading and exacerbating S. agalactiae udder infections.

The CMT had quarter-level sensitivities of 77 and 68% for S. agalactiae and S. aureus in camels, respectively. The CMT specificities were 91% for both the pathogens.     

Interpretation of California mastitis test scores using Staphylococcus aureus culture results for screening of subclinical mastitis in low yielding smallholder dairy cows in the Dar es Salaam region of Tanzania

Screening of subclinical mastitis under field conditions is done using the California mastitis test (CMT). CMT score of ≥1 corresponding to ≥500,000 somatic cells ml⁻¹ is commonly used as threshold of subclinical mastitis in temperate countries. However, given the innately high physiological level of somatic cells in low yielding dairy cows, this threshold may not apply to low yielding dairy cows. The current study was undertaken to investigate the clinical utility of CMT for screening of Staphylococcus aureus subclinical mastitis in low yielding smallholder dairy cows in Tanzania. A total of 1151 of quarter-milk samples were CMT tested, of these 914-originated from cows with a lactation period of 14–305 days. All samples were screened for subclinical mastitis by the CMT as well as microbiological culture of single, duplicate (two consecutive) and triplicate (three consecutive) samples as a gold standard. For the duplicate and triplicate quarter-samples, cows were considered positive for S. aureus subclinical mastitis if results of microbiologic culture for S. aureus were positive for two of two, and for at least two of the first three consecutive quarter-milk samples collected from that cow, respectively. Using a CMT score of ≥1 would classify 78.6% of the 940 quarter-samples as positive. Eighty-two percent of the samples in which S. aureus was isolated had CMT scores ≥2; this would classify 51.6% of the 940 quarter-samples as positive. For the single sample, this cut-off had sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratio for S. aureus of 0.87, 0.83 and 4.24, respectively. For the duplicate quarter-milk samples this cut-off had sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratio of 0.94, 0.86, and 5.19. While, for the triplicate quarter-milk samples this cut-off had sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratio of 0.97, 0.92 and 7.47, respectively. Based on these results and practical considerations, it is concluded that CMT score of ≥2 corresponding to ≥800,000 somatic cells Ml⁻¹ is the best cut-off to correctly identify S. aureus intramammary infections in low yielding dairy cows in Tanzania.     

金黄色葡萄球菌处理对奶牛乳腺上皮细胞外泌体表征的影响

【目的】本研究旨在从金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus,S.aureus,以下简称金葡菌)处理奶牛乳腺上皮细胞(bovine mammary epithelial cell,BMEC)上清中分离外泌体,探究金葡菌与BMEC数量比值(MOI)和处理后培养时间对外泌体总浓度的影响,并对金葡菌诱导BMEC释放的外泌体进行分离和鉴定。【方法】采用金葡菌临床分离菌株以MOI＝1和MOI＝10分别处理BMEC 3 h,对已处理的BMEC继续无外泌体培养9、12、24 h,同时设空白对照组,通过扫描电镜观察金葡菌处理对BMEC造成的超微结构损伤。采用超速离心法分离金葡菌诱导的BMEC上清液中的外泌体,分别用透射电镜、纳米颗粒追踪分析技术及Western blotting法对外泌体形态、颗粒大小和特异性标志蛋白进行分析鉴定。通过检测外泌体总蛋白浓度评估不同MOI和处理后培养时间对外泌体总量的影响,明确金葡菌诱导BMEC释放外泌体的最佳条件。【结果】通过扫描电镜观察发现,金葡菌处理BMEC后,细胞微绒毛脱落,细胞骨架破坏。透射电镜观察分离的外泌体为圆形的双层膜囊泡,直径在30~150 nm,形态均一。通过检测外泌体总蛋白浓度显示,在MOI＝10时,培养9、12和24 h金葡菌诱导BMEC释放外泌体蛋白浓度均高于MOI＝1,而培养12 h时释放外泌体蛋白浓度最高。对金葡菌诱导BMEC释放的外泌体进一步鉴定,其平均直径约为116 nm;Western blotting检测结果显示外泌体标记物CD9、CD81和TSG101表达阳性。【结论】本研究从形态学和分子生物学特征等方面证实获得的分离物为外泌体;金葡菌可以诱导BMEC释放外泌体,当MOI＝10时,金葡菌处理细胞3 h后继续无外泌体培养12 h,收获的细胞上清中外泌体蛋白含量最高。     

畜禽粪污中金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠埃希氏菌的LAMP检测及其耐药性分析

为深入了解畜禽粪污中金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠埃希氏菌的流行及耐药状况,采用建立的畜禽粪便中金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠埃希氏菌的环介导等温扩增技术（LAMP）检测方法对山东省内牛粪污、猪粪、鸡粪、鸭粪中的金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠埃希氏菌进行检测,进而对检测阳性样品进行分离,并对药敏试验中多重耐药性菌株进行耐药基因预测。结果表明,LAMP方法检测畜禽粪污中金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠埃希氏菌与国家标准方法检测结果符合率为100%,重复性好,特异性高。从80份畜禽粪污样品中分离到的3株金黄色葡萄球菌均对青霉素耐药;34株大肠埃希氏菌对氟苯尼考、利福平的耐药比例高于50%,高于25%以上的还有氨苄西林、四环素、多西环素、磺胺异噁唑、头孢噻吩和头孢噻呋;耐药基因预测结果显示,鸡粪、鸭粪、牛粪和猪粪中的4株大肠埃希氏菌分别携带10、8、20和15种耐药基因;鸡粪中的1株金黄色葡萄球菌携带11种耐药基因。说明山东地区畜禽粪污中金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠埃希氏菌耐药状况严峻,菌株普遍多重耐药,且携带多种耐药基因。     

Risk factors for intramammary infections and relationship with somatic-cell counts in Italian dairy goats

Routine examination of milk was performed on five herds of lactating goats in northern Italy as part of a milk quality-monitoring program in the year 2000. As part of the study, aseptic samples of foremilk were collected monthly from both half udders during the entire lactation for 305 goats, resulting in a total of 4571 samples. The samples were tested with cytological and bacteriological analyses to evaluate the relationship between mammary infections and somatic-cell count (SCC; Fossomatic (TM) method). Prevalence of intramammary infection (IMI) was 40.2% (n = 1837) of all udder-half samples examined. The most-prevalent mastitis agents were coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CNS), 80% (n = 1474 udder-half samples); within this group, Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most-prevalent species (38%). Other prevalence were Staphylococcus aureus 6% (n = 112 udder-half samples) and environmental pathogens 14% of infected udder-half samples (n = 251) with a diverse mixture of species, none of which had a frequency of >4%. Enterococcus faecalis was the most-frequently isolated among this group. Neither Salmonella spp. nor Listeria monocytogenes were detected. The risk (sample level) of infection differed across herds, parities, and stage of lactation according to results from logistic multiple regression. Infection was more common among goats in third and fourth parities and during the later stages of lactation. Of the 2734 samples from uninfected udder halves, the mean log₂ SCC was 3.9 cell/ml; of the 1837 bacteriological positive samples, the mean log₂ SCC was 5.6 cell/ml. According to results from a linear mixed model, concentrations of somatic cells tended to increase with increasing age and days in milk and with the presence of bacteria. Infection with S. aureus was associated with the highest SCS.     

牦牛隐性乳房炎主要病原菌及耐药和毒力基因分布情况

为探明牦牛隐性乳房炎（SCM）主要病原菌及其耐药和毒力基因的分布情况，本研究自甘肃省甘南州夏季牧场收集无乳房炎临床症状牦牛乳样，通过兰州乳房炎试验（LMT）筛选SCM乳样，从中分离病原菌并纯化培养，利用16S rDNA鉴定主要病原菌，通过纸片扩散法判定其药物敏感性，并采用PCR方法对相关耐药及毒力基因进行检测。结果显示，共筛选出牦牛SCM乳样324份，检出率14.43%；主要病原菌为葡萄球菌属、埃希氏菌属和肠球菌属，其中葡萄球菌分离株对青霉素和四环素耐药率最高，分别为59.57%和47.52%；大肠埃希氏菌分离株对四环素和氨苄西林耐药率最高，分别为43.40%和20.75%；粪肠球菌分离株对四环素和红霉素耐药率最高，分别为25.00%和16.67%；59株耐青霉素金黄色葡萄球菌中共检出MRSA 12株，其中7株携带mecA基因，5株含mecC基因；四环素外排泵基因tetK、tetA携带率最高（85.45%、56.36%），核糖体保护基因tetM携带率最低（34.55%）；毒力基因中，clfA、clfB、fib、coa基因检出率较高（87.64%、84.27%、83.15%、82.02%）。研究表明，牦牛SCM的主要病原菌为金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠埃希氏菌，均对青霉素类和四环素类抗生素耐药性较高，其中金黄色葡萄球菌的主要毒力因子为黏附因子和凝固酶。     

Investigation of Biofilm Formation,Virulence Genes and agr Typing of Staphylococcus aureus from Bovine Mastitis Cases

The objective of the present study was to investigate the biofilm formation, antimicrobial resistance, virulence genes, and agr genotypes of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) isolated from bovine mastitis cases, and to analyze the correlations between agr genotypes and virulence genes. Biofilm formation, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence genes for 336 strains of S. aureus were detected by microtiter plate method, disk diffusion method, and PCR respectively, and the agr typing of tested strains was determined by multiplex PCR. The results showed that all 336 strains of S. aureus from bovine mastitis were biofilm producers, among which 52.1% and 47.9% of isolates tested were moderate (++) and strong (+++) biofilm producers, respectively. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing demonstrated that S. aureus strains were highly resistant to penicillin, with a resistance rate of 91.7%, followed by erythromycin (89.6%), kanamycin (72.9%), clindamycin (66.7%) and gentamicin (60.4%). However, all isolates were sensitive to nitrofurantoin and linezolid. PCR results showed that the prevalence of fnbA gene was the highest (99.7%), followed by icaD (98.2%), icaA (89.6%), clfA (86.0%), cna (56.0%), and bap (14.6%) genes. Moreover, the sea, seb, sec and tst genes were found in 26.5%, 8.3%, 6.8% and 8.3% of the isolates, respectively. The agr typing results showed that S. aureus strains belonging to agr Ⅰ was predominant in our study, accounting for 77.1% of the isolates, and the frequencies of agr Ⅱ, agr Ⅲ and agr Ⅳ genotypes were 14.0%, 4.8% and 2.1%, respectively. Statistical analysis indicated that the strains of S. aureus belonging to agr Ⅰ genotype have the potential to carry more virulence genes, while no toxin genes could be found in any of the strains belonging to agr Ⅳ. The results revealed high antimicrobial resistance to common antimicrobial agents in S. aureus isolated from bovine mastitis milk samples. Moreover, agr Ⅰ was the predominant genotype with diverse toxin genes in S. aureus from bovine mastitis, and the potential hazard should be of concern.     

牛源金黄色葡萄球菌生物被膜与毒素基因检测及agr分型

旨在对牛源金黄色葡萄球菌（Staphylococcus aureus，S.aureus）的生物被膜、耐药性、毒素基因和agr基因型进行研究，并分析agr基因型与毒素基因之间的相关性。分别用微量滴定板法、药敏纸片法和PCR对S.aureus的生物被膜、耐药性和毒素基因进行检测，用多重PCR对S.aureus进行agr分型。结果表明，336株牛源S.aureus均能形成生物被膜，其中，形成中等（++）和强（+++）生物被膜的S.aureus分别占52.1%和47.9%。药敏试验结果显示，S.aureus对青霉素耐药最为严重，耐药率达91.7%，其次是红霉素、卡那霉素、克林霉素和庆大霉素，耐药率分别为89.6%、72.9%、66.7%和60.4%，而所有S.aureus对呋喃妥因和利奈唑胺均表现为敏感。PCR检测结果显示，黏附素基因fnbA检出率最高，达99.7%，其次是icaD、icaA、clfA和cna，检出率分别为98.2%、89.6%、86.0%和56.0%，bap基因检出率最低，为14.6%。肠毒素基因sea的检出率为26.5%，其次是seb（8.3%）和sec（6.8%），毒素基因tst的检出率占8.3%。分型结果显示，agr Ⅰ型S.aureus是主要的流行菌株，占77.1%，agr Ⅱ、agr Ⅲ和agr Ⅳ型S.aureus流行率分别为14.0%、4.8%和2.1%。统计分析结果表明，agr Ⅰ型S.aureus更具有携带多种毒素基因的潜力，而agr Ⅳ型S.aureus无毒素基因携带潜力。综上表明，牛乳腺炎性S.aureus对常见的抗菌药物耐药严重，毒素基因分布多样，agr Ⅰ型是奶牛乳腺炎性S.aureus主要的基因型，且具有携带多种毒素基因的能力，其潜在威胁应引起重视。     

Phenotypic and genotypic traits of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from pig carcasses

A total of 142 S. aureus strains isolated from pig carcasses from abattoirs A (n = 98) and B (n = 44) were characterized by phenotypic and genotypic traits. Phenotypically, 96% showed yellow-pigmented colonies, 63% β/δ hemolysis, 85% were egg yolk-positive and 99% were positive for clumping factor/protein A. Only 25% of the strains were resistant to the antimicrobials tested (abattoir A: 19%; abattoir B: 39%), especially to penicillin and ampicillin. None of the strains harbored the mecA gene, which is conserved in methicillin-resistant S. aureus. The biofilm associated genes icaA, icaD and bap were present in 100%, 100% and 0% of the strains. Genes for staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) were detected in 51% (abattoir A) and 14% of the strains (abattoir B). Among strains harboring SE genes (n = 56), 63%, 31%, 4% and 2% tested positive for seg/sei, seg, sei and sec, respectively. The amplification of the 3′ end of the coagulase gene (coa) yielded amplicons of 400, 436, 602, 682 or 776 bp. Coa restriction profile (CRP) analysis using HaeIII resulted in seven patterns (a–d, e1–e3). CRP (c) was detected most frequently at both abattoirs, whereas CRP (a) was restricted to abattoir A and CRP (e3) to abattoir B. In the slaughter process (abattoir B), (i) two CRPs (b and d) were only found before dehairing/singeing, and (ii) four CRPs (c, e1–e3) were identified throughout the process. The genotyping revealed a remarkable homogeneity in S. aureus strains from the two different abattoirs and the slaughter process stages. These results may be explained by the distribution of a limited number of S. aureus genotypes in the pig population. Moreover, as the predominant CRPs (c, e1–e3) persisted throughout the slaughter process in abattoir B, it may be hypothesized that these types are characterized by colonization advantages.     

Differentially expressed genes associated with Staphylococcus aureus mastitis of Canadian Holstein cows

To study pathway specific gene expression within the immune-endocrine axis of dairy cows with Staphylococcus aureus mastitis, mRNA was collected from blood mononuclear cells (BMCs) and milk somatic cells (MSCs) of cows (n = 7) identified as culture positive for S. aureus and their matched negative control cows (n = 7) with no evidence of S. aureus mastitis. Labeled cDNA probes derived from BMCs and MSCs of infected and healthy cows were applied to a bovine immune-endocrine cDNA array containing 167 genes. Genes with a log₂ ratio ≥ 0.5 were considered to be up-regulated and genes with a log₂ ratio ≤ −0.5 to be down-regulated. In total, 22 genes were differentially displayed in BMCs and 16 genes in MSCs of case versus controls. Expression of selected genes in BMCs and MSCs were confirmed by real-time PCR. The RT-PCR results were highly correlated with microarray measurements. Some of these genes, such as interleukin (IL)-8 have been previously implicated in other bacterial diseases, and are known to regulate immune responses; whereas, others may reflect novel pathways or genes involved in progressive mammary gland disease. For example, IL-18 was up-regulated in BMCs but not MSCs of mastitic quarters, while IL-17 was more highly expressed in MSCs compared to BMCs. This study identified a number of differentially expressed genes associated with bovine S. aureus mastitis and demonstrates the intricacy of the patterns of gene expression that influence host response to a complex pathogen of significant relevance to both human and veterinary medicine.     

Development of cell content and shedding of Prototheca spp. in milk from infected udder quarters of cows

It was the objective of this study to analyse shedding patterns and somatic cell counts in cows and quarters infected with Prototheca spp. and to evaluate two approaches to identify infected animals by somatic cell count (SCC) or by bacteriological analysis of pooled milk samples. Five lactating dairy cows, chronically infected with Prototheca spp. in at least one quarter were studied over 11 weeks to 13 months. Quarter milk samples and a pooled milk sample from 4 quarters were collected aseptically from all quarters of the cows on a weekly basis. Culture results of quarter milk and pooled samples were compared using cross tabulation. SCC of quarter milk samples and of pooled samples were related to the probability of detection in the infected quarters and cows, respectively. Shedding of Prototheca spp. was continuous in 2 of 8 quarters. In the other quarters negative samples were obtained sporadically or over a longer period (1 quarter). Overall, Prototheca spp. were isolated from 83.6% of quarter milk samples and 77.0% of pooled milk samples of infected quarters and cows. Somatic cell counts were higher in those samples from infected quarters that contained the algae than in negative samples (p < 0.0001). The same applied for composite samples from infected cows. Positive samples had higher SCC than negative samples. However, Prototheca spp. were also isolated from quarter milk and pooled samples with physiological SCC (i.e. < 10(5)/ml). Infected quarters that were dried off did not develop acute mastitis. However, drying off had no effect on the infection, i.e. samples collected at calving or 8 weeks after dry off still contained Prototheca spp. Results indicate that pre-selection of cows to be sampled for Prototheca spp. by SCC and the use of composite samples are probably inadequate in attempts to eradicate the disease. However, due to intermittent shedding of the algae in some cows, single herd sampling using quarter milk samples probably also fails to detect all infected cases. Therefore, continuous monitoring of problem cows with clinical mastitis or increased SCC in herds during eradication programs is recommended.     

金黄色葡萄球菌在生物被膜态与浮游态的转录组差异表达分析

金黄色葡萄球菌是引起奶牛细菌性乳腺炎的主要原因，生物被膜的形成是金黄色葡萄球菌在不利环境条件下持久性存在的关键因素。探索同一株菌在生物被膜态与浮游态生长状态下的耐药性与其生长状态的相关性，可为进一步探究金黄色葡萄球菌的耐药性机制奠定基础。本研究培养了金黄色葡萄球菌的生物被膜，使用光学显微镜和扫描电镜观察其形成过程。测定并比较了9种抗菌药物对32株金黄色葡萄球菌在生物被膜态和浮游态的最小抑菌浓度，并对两种状态下的金黄色葡萄球菌进行转录组学测序，筛选出具有显著性差异的细胞信号通路和表达基因，同时对主要差异表达的基因进行RT-qPCR验证。结果发现，在生物被膜形成前期，随着培养时间的延长，显微镜下观察到的生物被膜态菌聚集面积越来越大，结构也越来越紧密，培养至72 h后，生物被膜逐渐开始分散。MIC测定结果显示浮游态菌的抑菌浓度低于生物被膜态菌。转录组结果显示两种状态菌的差异表达基因共1 512个，其中，生物被膜态菌中上调基因760个，下调752个。GO与KEGG富集分析显示，相比于浮游态菌，生物被膜态菌中与代谢相关的通路显著富集，其次为氨基酸的生物合成和ABC转运蛋白通路。与生物被膜形成相关的基因，如编码ABC转运蛋白的基因表达上调，而与代谢途径相关的基因下调。RT-qPCR验证了10个主要差异基因，其表达差异趋势与转录组测序结果一致。这些差异可能对金黄色葡萄球菌生物被膜态的高耐药性和细菌毒力的研究有所帮助。     

PGD2/DP1途径对细菌感染奶牛子宫内膜组织中HMGB-1和PAFR表达的影响

为了研究前列腺素D₂（prostaglandin D₂,PGD₂）/DP₁受体途径对大肠杆菌（Escherichia coli）和金黄色葡萄球菌（Staphylococcus aureus）感染奶牛子宫内膜组织中炎症介质HMGB-1和PAFR的表达及对组织损伤程度的影响,试验以体外培养奶牛子宫内膜组织为研究对象,应用1×10^-6 mol/L DP₁受体激动剂（BW-245C和15d-PGJ2）和等量（1×10⁶ CFU/mL）大肠杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌共同处理奶牛子宫内膜组织,采用实时荧光定量PCR、免疫组化和HE染色法检测奶牛子宫内膜组织中HMGB-1和PAFR的表达并评价组织损伤情况。结果显示,与空白对照组相比,大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌感染奶牛子宫内膜组织中HMGB-1和PAFR表达量显著升高（P<0.05）,而DP₁受体激动剂与大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌共处理奶牛子宫内膜组织中DP₁受体激动剂显著抑制奶牛子宫组织中HMGB-1和PAFR的表达（P<0.05）。HE染色结果显示,大肠杆菌与金黄色葡萄球菌感染的奶牛子宫内膜组织上皮细胞和腺上皮细胞完全脱落、坏死、崩解;而DP₁受体激动剂、大肠杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌共同处理奶牛子宫内膜组织中,DP₁受体激动剂的加入显著减轻奶牛子宫内膜组织的损伤程度（P<0.05）。免疫组化染色法结果与以上两种方法结果一致。结果表明,PGD₂能够抑制大肠杆菌与金黄色葡萄球菌感染的奶牛子宫内膜组织中损伤相关因子HMGB-1、PAFR的表达,减轻组织损伤程度,这一作用可能是由DP₁受体所介导的。     

金黄色葡萄球菌对BV2细胞IFN-α生成的影响

旨在探究金黄色葡萄球菌（Staphylococcus aureus，简称金葡菌）对小胶质细胞α干扰素（interferon α，IFN-α）生成的影响，本研究先用金葡菌感染BV2细胞，检测IFN-α的mRNA表达、分泌到细胞培养液上清的量以及TBK1/IRF3通路的激活情况，再分别用TBK1抑制剂BX-795和amlexanox、NF-κB抑制剂IMD-0354处理细胞，检测TBK1/IRF3的激活以及IFN-α水平。结果表明，BV2感染金葡菌后，IFN-α转录水平在3~12 h升高，6~12 h释放量增加，呈剂量依赖性，TBK1和IRF3的转录水平和蛋白水平未发生变化，但在1~12 h其磷酸化水平升高，表明金葡菌激活BV2细胞TBK1/IRF3通路，BX-795、amlexanox和IMD-0354处理细胞后，IRF3磷酸化水平降低，IFN-α生成减少，表明TBK1和NF-κB参与金葡菌促进BV2细胞生成IFN-α。综上所述，金葡菌感染BV2后促进IFN-α生成，且该过程依赖于TBK1和NF-κB，本结果为临床防治中枢神经系统感染金葡菌提供了可能靶点和理论基础。     

Udder health and risk factors for subclinical mastitis in organic dairy farms in Switzerland

A study was performed in 1997 to estimate the prevalence and to investigate the etiology of subclinical mastitis in Swiss dairy herds managed under guidelines of controlled organic farming. It was planned as a longitudinal study over a period of 1 year and included a stratified random sample of 152 certified organic farms and 1907 cows. Two farm visits (the first from June to October when cows were on pasture, the second from January to March when cows were confined to barns) were performed on each farm. At each visit, farm management and individual-cow data (with emphasis on milking procedures and udder sanitation) were recorded. California mastitis tests (CMTs) were performed on each udder quarter of all cows in lactation. Milk samples with CMT >1+ were submitted for somatic cell counting (SCC), bacteriological examination and to test for antibiotic susceptibility. The SCC and germ-cell counts of monthly bulk-tank milk samples were available through Dairy Inspection and Advisory Services and milk production data of 567 herd-book cows were available from breeding associations. Possible individual and environmental predictors of subclinical mastitis were identified using logistic models adjusted for clustering of the data at herd and cow levels. Data were analyzed separately for cows from 7 to 100 and from 101 to 305 days post partum. Prevalences of subclinical mastitis at the quarter level were 21.2% for lactation period 7–100 days and 34.5% for 101–305 days post partum. The geometric mean SCC in bulk-tank milk samples was 85.6×10³ cells/ml. Samples at 7–100 and 101–305 days post partum were positive for Staphylococcus aureus in 16.0 and 7.4%, for coagulase-negative Staphylococci in 51.5 and 50.6%, for Streptococcus agalactiae in 0.0 and 0.8%, for other Streptococci in 19.4 and 15.6%, for E. coli in 1.0 and 0.4%, and for Corynebacterium bovis in 25.7 and 45.1%, respectively. Risks of subclinical mastitis increased significantly with increasing days post partum and advancing age of cow. Cows that were sampled when staying in alpine dairies had considerably higher risks of subclinical mastitis than cows staying in home barns. Significantly lower risks of subclinical mastitis were observed in farms where CMT was performed regularly as a control measure. Bacteria in milk from cows with mastitis exhibited antibiotic resistance at a comparable frequency as found previously in conventional farms.     

Enhanced killing of penicillin-treated S. aureus by host defences: Effects of amoxycillin, cloxacillin and nafcillin in vitro and in experimental mastitis

The effects of pretreatment of Staphylococcus aureus with subMIC or 10 × MIC amoxycillin, cloxacillin and nafcillin on subsequent killing by bovine neutrophils or sensitivity to lysostaphin were examined in vitro, using penicillinase positive and negative strains. All penicillins increased the susceptibility of S. aureus to bovine neutrophils; with amoxycillin this was most marked with the penicillinase negative strain. Cloxacillin pretreatment was significantly more effective than nafcillin or amoxycillin in some tests and equally effective in others. The sensitivity of S. aureus to lysostaphin was increased following cloxacillin or nafcillin exposure. In a mouse model of mastitis, more cloxacillin and nafcillin-treated S. aureus (at 1/4 MIC) were killed than untreated bacteria 1 hr after infection but by 4 hr no differences were found. No differences were seen after intramammary infection with 10 × MIC penicillin-treated S. aureus. In glands with established chronic mastitis both cloxacillin and nafcillin at high doses failed to kill staphylococci. These findings indicate that prior exposure to penicillins increases staphylococcal susceptibility to killing by neutrophils but following phagocytosis, intracellular bacteria are protected from the lethal action of penicillins.     

金黄色葡萄球菌细胞壁变化与β-内酰胺类抗生素耐药的关系

旨在揭示金黄色葡萄球菌针对β-内酰胺类抗生素可能存在细胞壁增厚的耐药机制。2016-2018年间，采集宁夏地区部分奶牛养殖场临床及亚临床型乳腺炎的乳样，通过显色培养基鉴别、镜检及PCR方法，分离鉴定牛乳源金黄色葡萄球菌；利用微量肉汤稀释法测定细菌对14种抗菌药物的耐药性，了解本地区金黄色葡萄球菌的耐药率及多重耐药情况；通过qRT-PCR方法检测细胞壁增厚相关的pbpB、murG、glmU、atlR基因转录丰度，并结合透射电镜进行形态观察，以确定增厚及发生原因。结果显示，分离鉴定出261株牛乳源金黄色葡萄球菌，其中包括9株耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌（methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus，MRSA）。药敏试验结果显示，金黄色葡萄球菌对β-内酰胺类抗生素具有较高的耐药率，其中氨苄西林为79.69%，青霉素为78.54%。多重耐药情况是以3、7和8重耐药的菌株居多；其中1株耐药种数达14种之多。qRT-PCR结果表明，4种相关基因的转录丰度均极显著上调（P<0.001或P<0.01）。透射电镜观察发现，甲氧西林敏感的金黄色葡萄球菌（methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus，MSSA）JY21菌株的细胞壁在64和128 μg·mL^-1的青霉素浓度下，较对照组均极显著增厚（P<0.001），并可见细胞壁表面粗糙，有结节状凸起；但药物浓度从64 μg·mL^-1升高至128 μg·mL^-1细胞壁不再显著增厚（P>0.05）。MRSA WLD10菌株细胞壁未出现明显增厚（P>0.05）。综上所述，本地区牛乳源金黄色葡萄球菌针对β-内酰胺类抗生素，存在细胞壁增厚的耐药机制；增厚的原因主要是肽聚糖的过度合成及细胞自溶的减少。与MSSA JY21菌株相比，细胞壁增厚并非MRSA WLD10重要的耐药机制。     

新疆部分地区生乳中金黄色葡萄球菌的分离鉴定及耐药性分析

【目的】探明新疆部分地区生乳中金黄色葡萄球菌流行情况及耐药性,为该地区生乳中金黄色葡萄球菌的监测及保障生乳质量安全提供理论依据。【方法】试验随机从南北疆规模化奶牛场采集110份生乳样品。采用增菌培养、分离纯化、革兰氏染色、生化鉴定及PCR法对奶样中金黄色葡萄球菌进行分离鉴定,并利用微量肉汤稀释法及PCR方法对金黄色葡萄球菌进行16种抗菌药物的耐药表型及耐药基因分析。【结果】从110份奶样中分离出18株金黄色葡萄球菌,分离株呈浅黄色、光滑凸起的圆形菌落,革兰氏染色镜检呈紫色、短链状排列的革兰氏阳性菌,生化试验结果符合金黄色葡萄球菌生化特点,经16S rDNA及nuc基因PCR扩增鉴定为金黄色葡萄球菌,分离率为16.36%(18/110)。药敏试验结果显示,金黄色葡萄球菌分离株对氨苄西林、青霉素及磺胺异噁唑具有较高的耐药性,耐药率分别为100%、83.33%和77.78%,而对万古霉素、复方新诺明、苯唑西林、头孢噻吩、头孢噻呋、利福昔明及环丙沙星7种抗菌药物高度敏感,敏感率分别为100%、100%、94.44%、94.44%、94.44%、94.44%和94.44%。其中有14株金黄色葡萄球菌为多重耐药菌,多重耐药率为77.78%。耐药基因检测结果显示,大环内酯类耐药基因ermB检出率最高,为50.00%,其次为β-内酰胺类耐药基因mecA,检出率为27.28%,磺胺类耐药基因Sul1的检出率为22.22%。【结论】新疆奶牛场生乳中分离的金黄色葡萄球菌的流行及耐药情况仍较严重,且存在多重耐药现象,因此,对生乳中金黄色葡萄球菌耐药性的监测有重要意义。     

Herd-level risk factors for Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica in U.S. market pigs

Midwest U.S. herds (n = 63) were studied to identify risk factors for harboring Salmonella enterica among slaughter-weight pigs. Samples collected on farms (feces) and at slaughter (distal colonic content, cecal content and ileocolic lymph nodes) were cultured using conventional means. Approximately 15 pigs were studied per herd, for a total of 3754 samples. The proportion of pigs positive in one or more samples was calculated for each herd. Herd characteristics were described by a combination of interview and written survey. Logistic regression was used to detect relationships between the detection of Salmonella and potential herd-level risk factors. The mean individual pig prevalence was 5% for feces, 4% for distal colonic content, 15% for ileocolic lymph nodes, and 17% for cecal contents. One or more Salmonella isolates were detected in at least one sample type in every herd. The five most common serovars were S. Agona, S. Derby, S. Schwarzengrund, S. Typhimurium and S. Senftenberg, with 25 additional serovars detected. Salmonella prevalence estimates were positively correlated among all samples except distal colonic content and ileocolic lymph nodes. Pigs with culture positive fecal samples were at increased odds of being detected positive for each of the slaughter-collected samples examined, namely distal colonic content (OR = 30.5), ileocolic lymph nodes (OR = 12.9) and cecal content (OR = 23.2). Herds with positive fecal sample(s) had increased odds of having positive cecal content (OR > 1.5), distal colonic content (OR = 15.3) and ileocolic lymph nodes (OR = 12.7). Pigs from herds with at least some bowl drinkers had eight-fold higher odds of testing Salmonella positive than did pigs from herds with only nipple drinkers. Pigs from herds with only dry feeders had five-fold higher odds of testing Salmonella positive when compared with pigs from herds with combinations of wet/dry style feeders. Interventions at these two points should be considered when designing growing pig facilities to reduce Salmonella shedding.     

Effect of prepartum intramammary treatment with pirlimycin hydrochloride on prevalence of early first-lactation mastitis in dairy heifers

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether prepartum intramammary treatment of dairy heifers with pirlimycin hydrochloride would reduce the prevalence of intramammary infection (IMI) and lower the somatic cell count (SCC) during early lactation or improve 305-day mature equivalent milk production. DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial. ANIMALS: 183 Holstein-Friesian heifers (663 quarters) from 2 dairy farms. PROCEDURE: Heifers were assigned to treatment and control groups. Treated heifers received a single 50-mg dose of pirlimycin in each mammary quarter approximately 10 to 14 days prior to parturition. Prepartum mammary gland secretions and postpartum milk samples were collected for bacterial culture. Postpartum milk samples were also collected for determination of SCC or California mastitis testing and were tested for pirlimycin residues. Mature equivalent 305-day milk production data were recorded. RESULTS: Treated heifers in herd A had a higher overall cure rate, higher cure rates for IMI caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) and Staphylococcus aureus, lower SCC, and lower prevalence of chronic IMI, compared with control heifers. Treated heifers in herd B had a higher overall cure rate and cure rate for IMI caused by CNS, compared with control heifers, but postpartum California mastitis test scores and prevalence of chronic IMI did not differ between groups. Mature equivalent 305-day milk production did not differ between herds or treatment groups. No pirlimycin residues were detected in postpartum milk samples. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that prepartum treatment of dairy heifers with pirlimycin may reduce the prevalence of early lactation IMI, particularly IMI caused by CNS, without causing pirlimycin residues in milk.